Well pipe centering and fluid flowcourse controlling device



y 7, 1965 J. R. SOLUM 3,196,952

WELL PIPE CENTERING AND FLUID FLOWCOURSE CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed June20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 x 5 5 M F 24 24 Z6 5 26 Z 7 27 Z 25 29 29 Ea..5. /4 9 A4 27 25 I 29 INVENTOR. 2.9 /6 /5 ./4/1 /5 e. 5022/44 Z 7 BY 25Z Z0 J. R. SOLUM July 27, 1965 WELL PIPE CENTERING AND FLUID FLOW-COURSECONTROLLING DEVICE Filed June 20,. 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 3 T4 w W Q 6.Z 9 5 C. a /M 5 M Cfi fin. m w

6 W Qwww y 7, 1965 J. R. SOLUM 3,196,952

WELL PIPE CENTERING AND FLUID FLOW-COURSE CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed June20, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. AMES e. 504 (/M United States PatentWELL PIPE CENTERING AND FLUID FLGW- CGURSE CONTRGLLING DEVIEE James R.Solurn, Los Angeles, Caiii, assiguor to E d: W

Incorporated, Torrance, Caiih, a corporation of Caiifornia Filed June20, 1962, Ser. No. 203,762

12 Claims. (ill. 166-241) This invention relates to a device forcentering a well pipe in a well bore and directionally controlling thefluid flow past the device in the annular space between the well pipeand the wall of the well bore.

There are numerous processes and operations performed during thedrilling and completion of oil or gas wells wherein a well casing,tubing or pipe is lowered into another larger well pipe or the well boreand where it is desirable to center the well pipe so lowered Within thewell bore of other well pipe. There are various types of devicesemployed for this purpose, some of which have outwardly bowed springstaves or bows and are common ly referred to as centralizers.

During the drilling and completion of wells, the well bore is generallyfilled with a drilling fluid or mud for various reasons. It has beenfound 'by those skilled in the art that When a well pipe is positionedwithin another Well pipe or within the well bore and the drilling fluidor mud is circulated through the annular space therebetween, that thedrilling fluid may assume a channeling flow through the annular space.In this channeling flow, only a portion of the fluid within the annularspace is flowing relative to the well pipe and well bore and theremainder of the fluid remains relatively static. This channeling flowoccurs as a result of the gelling properties of the drilling fluid ormud in that if the drilling fluid is allowed to stand in a staticcondition it will gel and a substantial hydraulic or mechanicalagitating force is needed to again turn the drilling fluid into aflowing fluid state.

During certain procedures and processes in the drilling and completionof a well, such as cementing a Well casing in the well bore thischanneling flow is highly undesirable. For example, in a cementingoperation if this channeling flow occurrs a complete displacement of thedrilling fluid is not obtained and therefore the annular space will notbe completely filled with cement and the well casing may not beadequately supported and cemented into the well bore. It has been foundthat hydraulic forces may be developed for eliminating this channelingflow by using extremely high fluid pumping velocities, but the pressuresand volumes required have made such a method impractical due to thenumber of pumps required at the well site. The mechanical agitatingforce necessary to overcome the gelling of the drilling fluid has beenachieved by the use of scratchers or the like on the exterior of thewell casing and then rotating or reciprocating the casing to agitate thedrilling fluid and cement slurry.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide anovel form of centralizer wherein novel means are provided forcontrolling the direction of flow of fluid past the centralizer tointroduce turbulence and thereby interrupt the channeling flow occurringin the drilling fluid and cement slurry to develop a more completedisplacement of the drilling fluid by the cement slurry.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a novel form ofcentralizer wherein each means for con trolling the fluid flow-course inthe annular space are supported by and extend circumferentially fromeither side of a centralize/r bow; and such means are adapted tocollapse or expand as the bows are collapsed or expanded to conform tothe configuration of the well bore.

3,l%,952 Patented July 27, 1965 A further object of this invention is toprovide a centralizer with novel means that cooperate with the wellcasing to define a substantially enclosed fluid passage positioned at anangle to the axis of the well pipe whereby the fluid flow-course passedthe centralizer is controlled to interrupt any channeling flow occurringin the annulus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fluid flow-coursecontrol-ling device for agitating the drilling fluid and cement slurrypresent within the annular space between a well pipe and the well borewall wherein novel means are provided and adequately supported forconforming to the size and configuration of the well bore without damageto the well bore wall or the device.

A further and more specific object of this invention is to provide adevice for centering a well pipe and controlling the flow-course offluid past the device wherein the flow-course of the fluid is directedhelically in one direction around the well pipe at one location on thedevice and is directed helically around the pipe in the oppositedirection at a second point longitudinally spaced from the first point.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages of this invention willappear from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view illustrating the device of this inventionmounted on a well pipe and positioned in a well bore.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation view taken substantially on the line2-2 as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the line 33 asshown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an elevation view showing a modified form of the fluidflow-course element employed in the device of this invention.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 asshown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a second modified form of the fluid flowcourse elementemployed in the device of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line '77 asshown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary elevation view of the device of this inventionillustrating a modified form of the fluid flow-course element which maybe employed.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken substantially on theline 9-9 as shown in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is an elevation view of another modified form of the device ofthis invention shown mounted on a well pipe and positioned in a wellbore.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional elevation view taken substantially on the line1 l-1l shown in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the line 12-12shown in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of the fluid flowcourse element employedin the modified form of device shown in FIGURES 10, 11 and 12.

FIGURE 14 is an elevation view of another modified form of the device ofthis invention which may employ one or more features of the other formsof this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 the device of this invention,generally designated 10, is provided with a pair of axially aligned andspaced collars 11 and 12 and a plurality of longitudinally extendingspring bows 13. The collars 11 and 12 may each be in the form of a pairof semi-cylindrical collars hinged together by hinges 14 as shown or thecollars may be solid cylindrical collars (not shown). As is conventionalwith centralizers and the like, if the collars 11 and 12 are hinged thedevice 10 may be hinged to an open position and laterally applied to thecasing 9 whereas if the collars are solid the device must he slipped onthe casing R.

The spring bows 13 extend longitudinally between collars 11 and 12 andare secured thereto by any convenient means such as arc welding 15. Asis conventional with centralizer-s, the spring bows 13 are bowedoutwardly from the collars and the casing 9 in order to engage the wellbore wall 8 for maintaining the casing 9 substantially in the center ofthe well bore. The spring bows 13 of this device are preferably providedwith a longitudinally straight portion 16 for establishing surfacecontact with the well bore wall 8 and for mounting a flow-courseelement, generally designated 17, thereon.

As shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 the flow-course element 17 is anintegrally formed assembly provided with a channel shaped mounting base18 adapted to fit inside of the straight portion 16 of a spring bow 13.The mounting base 18 is secured to the straight portion 16 by anyconvenient means such as spot welding 19. Plates 20 and 21 projectlaterally and circumferentially from the mounting base 18 and have agenerally cylindrical outer surface for engaging the well bore wall 8.The outer surface of the plates 20 and 21 may be provided with one ormore linear depressions 22 which form inwardly projecting ribs toenhance the structural strength of the plates 20 and 21. The lineardepressions 22 also serve to reduce the tendency of the outer surfacesof the plates 20 and 21 to adhere to the well bore wall 8. The loweredge of plate 20 and the upper edge of plate 21 are each provided withan inwardly curved lip 23 to prevent the plates 20 or 21 from gouging orexcessively scraping the well bore wall 8 upon longitudinal movement ofthe device relative to the well bore wall. Inwardly projecting vanes 24and 25 are provided on the plates and 21, respectively.

The vanes 24 and each extend diagonally at an angle to both the attachedspring bow 13 and the circumference of the well pipe 9 as best shown inFIGURE 1. Each of the vanes 24 and 25 project inwardly toward the wellcasing 9 at an angle to the surface of the well casing rather thanperpendicular thereto so that as the attached spring bow 13 iscompressed toward the well casing the vanes 24 and 25 will flex relativeto the plates 20 and 21, respectively, rather than be crushed by thisinward movement of the spring bow. The vanes 24 and 25 each have an edge26 along their inwardly projecting extremity which is contoured tosubstantially fit and engage the outer surface of the well casing 9. Thevanes 24 and 25 may also be provided with one or more formed ribs 27protruding from the major surface of the vane with an edge 28 slightlyspaced from the outer surface of the well casing 9. A small aperture isformed between the edge 28 of the vane and the surface of the wellcasing for fluid to pass therebetween. The ribs 27 may be intentionallyformed in the vanes 24 and 25 or may occur as a result of the forming ofvanes 24 and 25 since these vanes are relatively flat but must be formedto curve around the well casing. The vanes 24 and 25 of a singleflow-course element 17 preferably extend at equal diagonal anglesrelative to the attached spring how 13. Thus a diagonally directed fluidflow-course is formed between the vanes 24 and 25 of a single element 17and such flow-course is substantially equal in cross-section throughoutits length. The ends of the vanes 24 and 25 are curved from the plates20 and 21, respectively, toward the edge 26 as shown at 29 and 30 sothat the vanes will not engage and gouge the well bore wall 8.

In the form of device 10 shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the plates 20 and21 and vanes 24 and 25 extend circumferentially from the attached springhow 13 to a location underneath each adjacent spring how 13. Thus, eachflow-course element 17 is positioned between three spring bows 13 andthe well casing 9. As the device 10 passed through a restricted portionof the well bore or the casing 9 is urged off center relative to thewell bore as in a non-vertical directional well bore, the bow springs 13will be urged inwardly toward the well casing 9 and the vanes 24 and 25will be flexed to accommodate the change in annular space. As shown inthe plan view FIGURE 3,

the vanes 24 and 25 of a single flow-course element 17 overlap oneanother under the attached spring bow 13 as shown at 30. In the form ofthe device 10 shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 where six spring bows 13 areprovided and equally spaced around the collars 11 and 12, it ispreferred that two flow-course elements 17 be provided and secured todiametrically spaced spring bows 13. By providing two elements 17 thevane 24 of one element and the vane 25 of the other element form a fluidflow-course therebetween as shown in FIGURE 2 which is similar to theflow-course between vanes 24 and 25 of a single flow-course element 17,but is open to the well bore wall 8.

The device 10 may be positioned on the well casing 9 at the desiredlocation by any convenient means such as a pair of stop collars 31 and32 which may be of the type shown in United States Letters Patent No.2,983,982, entitled Friction Clamp Collar, issued May 16, 1961. As shownin FIGURE 1, stop collar 31 may engage the lower edge of collar 11 andstop collar 32 will be slightly spaced from the upper edge of collar 12.Although it is usually adequate to provide a single stop collar betweenthe collars of a centralizer it is necessary to provide the two stopcollars 31 and 32 with device 10 so that the collars 11 and 12 cannotmove far enough on the casing 9 for the vanes 24 and 25 to engage thestop collars which, if permitted, may damage the vanes. The casing 9with one or more devices 10 installed thereon (and conventionalscratchers, if desired) is lowered into the well bore. As the device 10passes through the well bore, the drilling fluid or mud in the annularspace between the casing and the well bore wall is forced to passthrough the flow-courses defined by vanes 24 and 25 to therebymechanically agitate any gelled drilling fluid to a more fluid state.Likewise, when the drilling fluid or cement slurry is pumped downthrough the well casing 9 and upwardly in the annular space the upwarddirection of flow will be diagonally diverted by the vanes 24 and 25thereby hydraulically agitating and creating turbulence in the drillingfluid and cement slurry.

The modified form of flow-course element, generally designated 17a,shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 is similar to the flow-course element 17 shownin FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 except that the shape of the circumferentiallyextending plates 20a and 21a modified from the shape of the plates 20and 21. The inwardly curved lips 23a on each plate 20a and 21a extendsubstantially circumferentially rather than diagonally as do lips 23 ofplates 20 and 21. FIG- URES 4 and 5 also show linear depressions 22a inthe surfaces of plates 211a and 21a and ribs 27a in the vanes 24a and25a similar to the linear depressions 22 and ribs 27 shown in FIGURES 1,2 and 3.

The modified form of flow-course element, generally designated 17b shownin FIGURES 6 and 7, may be substantially similar to the flow-courseelements 17 and 17a shown in FIGURES 1 through 5 except that one or moretabs 27b are lanced out of the vanes 24b and 25b rather than providingthe ribs 27 or 27a in the vanes. The tabs 27b serve as a turbulencegenerating obstruction in the flow-courses formed by the vanes 24b and25b to thereby further agitate the drilling fluid and cement slurrypassing through such flow-courses. Moreover, the aperture formed bylancing the tabs 27b out of the material of the vanes 24b and 25b allowdrilling fluid and cement slurry to pass therethrough at an angle to themajor direction of fluid flow to further hydraulically agitate theflowing drilling fluid and cement slurry.

The modified form of the device generally designated shown in FIGURES 8and 9, is provided with axially spaced collars 11c (lower collar notshown) and longitudinally extending spring bows similar to collars 11and 12 and spring bows 13, respectively, provided in the device 10 shownin FIGURES l, 2 and 3. The flowcourse element, generally designated 170,of this modified form is similar to flow-course element 17 except thatthe circumferentially extending plates 20c and 210 extend a shorterdistance than the plates and 21 so that plates Ztlc and 21c are notpositioned beneath the adjacent spring bows Me, as best shown in FIGURE9. This arrangement allows freer movement of the plates 26c and 210 andthe adjacent spring bows 130 but also eliminates the backup support forthe element 170 which would be provided by these spring bows. FIGURES 8and 9 also illustrate that the flow-course element 17c may be secured tothe straight portion 160 of the spring bow by means of arc welding 190rather than the spot welding 19 used in device It Further, FIGURES 8 and9 show that the projections 270 may be located at any point along theinwardly directed vanes as desired.

The modified form of device, generally designated Illa, shown in FIGURES1O, 11, 12 and 13 is provided with an upper collar 11d and a lowercollar 33 with a plurality of spring bows 13d extending therebetween andsecured to the collars. The lower collar 33 is adapted to be secured tothe well pipe 9 and may be of any conventional type stop collar such asthat shown in United States Letters Patent No. 2,872,226, entitled StopCollar for a Well Pipe, issued February 3, 1959. By providing the stopcollar 33 it is unnecessary to provide the stop collars 31 and 32 shownin FIGURES 1 and 2. Three flow-course eiements, generally designated17d, are provided on the device ltld and the elements preferably aremounted on the longitudinally straight portions 1nd of every otherspring bow 13d (when six spring bows are provided, as shown). Eachflow-course element 17d has a mounting base 18d and a pair of plates2490? and 21d extending circumferentially in opposite directions fromthe mounting base. The plates Zlld and 21d may be provided with inwardlycurved lip portions 23d along their upper edges similar to previouslydescribed lips 23 and 23a. A single vane 24d is provided on eachflow-course element 17d and projects inwardly toward the surface of thecasing 9 from and is integrally formed with the plates 20d and 21d andthe mounting base 18a. The vane 24d extends diagonally at an angle toboth the spring bow 13d and the circumference of the well casing 9, asbest shown in FIGURE 10. Although it is not essential it is preferredthat the plates Ziid and 21d and the vane 24d extend circumferentiallyunderneath both of the spring bows 13d adjacent to the attached springbow 13d to thereby provide additional support to the flow-course element17d. Since the flowcourse elements 17d are secured to every other springbow 13d and each element extends circumferentially underneath eachadjacent spring bow Ed the vanes 24d of separate elements 17d eitheroverlap or nearly overlap as shown in FIGURE 12. Thus, a fluidflow-course is defined between the vanes 24d of adjacent flow-courseelements 17d. Projections 27d may be provided on the vane 240. similarto projections 27 on device 10 of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 for the samepurposes.

In the modified form of device, generally designated 192, shown inFIGURE 14, an upper collar lie, at lower collar 12c, and a middle collar34 are provided and are axially spaced and aligned. A plurality ofspring bows 13c extend longitudinally between and are secured to collarstie and 34. A second plurality of spring bows 13f extend longitudinallybetween and are secured to collars He and 34. Flow-course elements I72and 17f are provided and mounted on spring bows 13c and 13 respectively,in a manner as previously described. The number of elements 17c that arespaced around the device N32 and mounted to spring bows He, andlikewise, the number of elements 17 that are spaced around device we andmounted to spring bows 13 will depend upon the particular design ofelements 1% and 17f, the number of spring bows 13c and 13 and designchoice. The flow-course elements 172 and 17f may be of any of the typesof flow-course elements previously described. The vane or vanes 24c ands of elements 17:: are diagonally positioned in one direction relativeto the well casing 9 and the spring bows 132 while the vane or vanes 24fand 25 of elements 17 are diagonally positioned in the oppositedirection. Thus the drilling fluid and cement slurry flowing past thedevice we in the annular space between the casing 9 and well bore wall 8is first forced to flow in one helical direction (such as left-handed,by element 17 and then in the opposite helical direction (right-handed,by element 17c). This reversing of direction of flow serves to moreeffectively change the drilling fluid to a more fluid state andtherefore further reduces the channeling flow of the drilling fluidwithin itself. Moreover, when the ascending cement slurry flows past thedevice lite the oppositely directed vanes on elements 17c and 17ffurther enhance the complete displacement of the drilling fluid by thecement slurry. The device we may be positioned on casing 9 by mounting astop collar 31 on the casing just below the upper collar lie andmounting a stop collar 32 on the casing just above the lower collar 122,as described relative to FIGURE 1, or in any other conventional manner.

Thus it may be seen that a device is provided, having variousmodifications, which effectively centers the well casing within the Wellbore, effectively agitates and creates turbulence in the drilling fluidand cement slurry by flow-course control, and adapts itself to the sizeand configuration of the well bore without damage to the device. It isto be noted that each of the flow-course elements shown and describedherein is supported at or near the center of the element with a vane orportion of a vane extending circumferentially in either direction fromthe attached spring bow. Thus as that attached spring bow is compressedin the well bore the flexing forces on the vanes are relatively equallydistributed on each side of the support base of the flow-course elementthereby minimizing any possibility of structural failure.

Having fully described my invention it is to be under stood that I donot wish to be limited to the details herein set forth or to the detailsillustrated in the drawings, but my invention is of the full scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

I. In a well pipe centering and fluid flow-course controlling device thecombination of a plurality of axially spaced collars adapted to bemounted on the well pipe, a plurality of outwardly bowed spring meansextending between and secured to said collars, plate means mounted meansbetween said adjacent spring means and the well.

pipe, said plate means having at least one vane projecting inwardly fromsaid spring means toward the well pipe, each said vane extendingdiagonally and circumferentially relative to the well pipe for divertingfluid flowing past the device, and each said vane being resilient forflexing upon flexing of said spring means.

2. The combination of claim I wherein means are provided on one of saidcollars for securing that collar to the well pipe.

3. In a well pipe centering and fluid flow-course controlling device,the combination of: a pair of axially spaced collars adapted to bemounted on the well pipe, a plurality of outwardly bowed spring meansextending between and secured to said collars, a plurality of flow--course controlling means, each said flow-course controlling meansmounted on the inside of a said spring means and extending laterally inboth directions from that spring means, each flow-course controllingmeans having at least one vane projecting inwardly toward and engagingthe surface of the well pipe, each said vane having at least oneprojection thereon shaped away from the casing for forming a gap betweenthe vane and the surface of the well pipe, and each vane extendingdiagonally and circumferentially re.ative to the well pipe and saidspring means in substantially the same relation as the other vanes fordefining a flow-course between each pair of vanes, said vanes beingresilient for flexing upon flexing of said spring means.

4. In a device for centering a well pipe in a well bore and controllingthe flow-course of fluid in the annular space between the well pipe andthe well bore, the combination of: a pair of axially spaced collarsadapted to be mounted on the well pipe, a plurality of spring bowsextending between and secured to said collars, each of said spring bowsbeing bowed outwardly for engaging the well bore, a plurality offlow-course elements, each flowcourse element mounted on the inside of aspring bow and extending circumferentially in both directions tolocations beneath each of the circumferentially adjacent spring bows forconfining the circumferential extremities of said flow-course elementbetween said adjacent spring bows and the well pipe, each flow-courseelement having a pair of vanes projecting inwardly toward and at anangle to the surface of the well pipe, each said vane extendingdiagonally and cincumferentially relative to the spring bows and to thewell pipe, the pair of said vanes on one flow-course element extendingdiagonally and circumferentially at substantially the same angle wherebyan enclosed fluid passage is formed therebetween, and each said vanehaving an edge along the inwardly projecting extremity for engaging andconforming to the surface of the well pipe, said vanes being resilientfor flexing upon flexing of said spring bows.

5. In a device for centering a well pipe in a well bore and controllingthe flow-course of fluid in the annular space between the well pipe andthe well bore, the combination of: a pair of axially spaced collarsadapted to be mounted on the well pipe, one of said collars having meansfor securing that collar to the well pipe, a plurality of spring bowsextending between and secured to said collars, each of said spring bowsbeing bowed outwardly for engaging the well bore, a plurality offlow-course elements, each flow-course element mounted on the inside ofa spring bow and extending circumferentially in both directions tolocations beneath each of the circumferentially adjacent spring bows forconfining the circumferential extremities of said flow-course elementbetween the well pipe and the said adjacent spring bows, each flowcourseelement having a pair of vanes projecting inwardly toward and at anangle to the surface of the well pipe, said vanes being resilient forflexing upon flexing of said spring bows, each said vane extendingcircumferentially and diagonally relative to the spring bows and to thewell pipe, the pair of said vanes on one flow-course element extendingdiagonally at substantially the same angle whereby an enclosed fluidpassage is formed therebetween, and each said vane having an edge alongthe inwardly projecting extremity for engaging and conforming to thesurface of the well pipe.

6. In a device for centering a well pipe in a well bore and controllingthe flow-course of fluid in the annular space between the well pipe andthe well bore, the combination of: a pair of axially spaced collarsadapted to be mounted on the well pipe, a plurality of spring bowsextending between and secured to said collars, each of said spring bowsbeing bowed outwardly for engaging the well bore, a plurality offlow-course elements, each flowcourse element having a base portionmounted on the inside of a spring bow, each flow-course element having aplate extending circumferentially from said base portion in onedirection and another plate extending circumferentially from said baseportion in the other direction, each said plate extendingcircumferentially to a location beneath the next adjacent spring bow forconfining the circumferential extremity of that said plate between thatsaid adjacent spring bow and the well pipe, a vane on each said plateprojecting inwardly toward and at an angle to the surface of the wellpipe, said vanes being resilient for flexing upon flexing of said springbows, each said vane extending circumferentially and diagonally relativeto the spring bows and to the well pipe, the pair of said vanes on oneflow-course element extending diagonally at substantially the sameangle, each said vane having an edge along the inwardly projectingextremity for engaging and conforming to the surface of the well pipe,and the sai vanes and plates of each flow-course element cooperatingwith the surface of the well pipe to define an enclosed fluid passageextending diagonally relative to the well pipe.

'7. In a device for centering a well pipe in a well bore and controllingthe flow-course of fluid in the annular space between the well pipe andthe well bore, the combination of: a pair of axially spaced collarsadapted to be mounted on the well pipe, a plurality of spring bowsextending between and secured to said collars, each of said spring bowsbeing bowed outwardly for engaging the well bore, a plurality offlow-course elements, each flow-course element having a base portionmounted on the inside of a spring bow, each flow-course element having aplate extending circumferentially from said base portion in onedirection and another plate extending circumferentially from said baseportion in the other direction, a vane on each said plate projectinginwardly toward and at an angle to the surface of the well pipe, saidvanes being resilient relative to the attached plate for flexing of suchvane upon flexing of the said spring bows, each said vane extendingcircumferentially and diagonally relative to the spring bows and to thewell pipe, the pair of said vanes on one flow-course element extendingdiagonally at substantially the same angle, each said vane having anedge along the inwardly projecting extremity .for engaging andconforming to the surface of the well pipe, each said edge having a tablanced therefrom for forming a gap between said edge and the well pipesurface for permitting fluid flow therebetween, and the said vanes andplates of each flew-course element cooperating with the surface of thewell pipe to define an enclosed fluid passage extending diagonallyrelative to the well pipe.

8. In a device for centering a well pipe in a well bore and controllingthe flow-course of fluid in the annular space between the well pipe andthe well bore, the combination of: a pair of axially spaced collarsadapted to be mounted on the well pipe, a plurality of spring bowsextending between and secured to said collars, each of said spring bowsbeing bowed outwardly for engaging the well bore and having anintermediate longitudinally extending straight portion, a plurality offlow-course elements, each flow-course element having a base portionmounted on the said straight portion of a spring bow, each flow-courseelement having a plate extending circumferentially from said baseportion in one direction and another plate extending circumferentiallyfrom said base portion in the other direction, a vane on each said plateprojecting inwardly toward and at an angle to the surface of the wellpipe, said vanes being resilient relative to the attached plate forflexing upon flexing of said spring bows, each said vane extendingcircumferentially and diagonally relative to the spring bows and to thewell pipe, the pair of said vanes on one flow-course element extendingdiagonally at substantially the same angle, each said vane having anedge along the inwardly projecting extremity for engaging and conformingto the surface of the well pipe, each said vane having at least oneprojection thereon shaped away from the well pipe for separating thatportion of each said edge from the well pipe surface for permittingfluid flow therebetween, and the said vanes and plates of eachflow-course element cooperating with the surface of the well pipe todefine an enclosed fluid passage extending diagonally relative to thewell pipe.

9. In a device for centering a well pipe in a well bore and controllingthe flow-course of fluid in the annular space between the well pipe andthe well bore, the combination of: a pair of axially spaced collarsadapted to be mounted on the well pipe, a plurality of spring bowsextending between and secured to said collars, each of said spring bowsbeing bowed outwardly from engaging the well bore and having an intermeiate longitudinally extending straight portion, plurality of flow-courseelements, each flow-course element having a base portion mounted on thesaid straight portion of a spring bow, each flow-course element-havin aplate extending circumferentially from said base portion in onedirection and another plate extending circumferentially from said baseportion in the other direction, each said plate having one edge with aninwardly curved lip and another edge with an integral vane, each vaneprojecting inwardly toward and at an angle to the surface of the wellpipe, said vanes being resilient relative to said plate for flexing uponflexing of said spring bows, each said vane extending laterally at anangle to the spring bows and at an angle to the circumference of thewell pipe, the pair of said vanes on one flow-course element extendinglaterally at substantially the same angle, each said vane having an edgealong the inwardly projecting extremity of engaging and conforming tothe surface of the well pipe, each said vane having at least oneprojection thereon shaped away from the well pipe for separating thatportion of each said edge from the Well pipe surface for permittingfluid flow therebetween, and the said vanes and plates of eachflow-course element cooperating with the surface of the well pipe todefine an enclosed fluid passage extending at an angle to the axis ofthe well pipe.

149. In a device for centering a well pipe in a well bore andcontrolling the flow-course of fluid in the annular space between theWell pipe and the well here, the combination of: an upper collar, amiddle collar, a lower collar, said collars being axially aligned andspaced and adapted to be mounted on the well pipe, a plurality of springbows extending between and secured to the upper and middle collars, asecond plurality of spring bows extending between and secured to thelower and middle collars, each of said spring bows being bowed outwardlyfor engaging the well bore, a plurality of flow-course elements, atleast one of said flow-course elements mounted on one of the spring bowsof said first plurality of spring bows and at least another of saidflow-course elements mounted on one of the spring bows of said secondplurality of spring bows, each said flow-course element having at leastone vane projecting inwardly toward the well pipe, said vanes beingresilient relative to said element for flexing upon flexing of saidspring bows, each said vane extending circumferentially and diagonallyrelative to the spring bows and the well pipe, each said flow-courseelement extending circumferentially in both directions from the attachedspring bow to locations beneath both or" the circumferentially adjacentspring bows for confining the circumferential extremities of saidflow-course element between said adjacent spring bows and the well pipe,and the said vanes on the flow-course elements mounted on said firstplurality of spring bows extending diagonally in the opposite di ectionas the said vanes on the said second plurality of spring bows.

11. The combination of claim ll wherein two said vanes are provided oneach said flow-course element and the said two vanes on each individualelement are substantially parallel and spaced from each other to definea flow-course therebetween.

12. The combination of claim 1% wherein each said vane projects inwardlyat an angle to the surface of the well pipe and has an edgesubstantially conforming to and engaging the well pipe.

leferences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,228,648 1/41Welles 166-241 2,258,052 10/41 Hall 166-172 2,290,429 7/42 Hartman et all66l72 2,312,660 3/43 Steps 166-472 2,515,149 7/50 Willhoit 1662412,602,512 7/52 Baker 166-241 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner.

1. IN A WELL PIPE CENTERING AND FLUID FLOW-COURSE CONTROLLING DEVICE THECOMBINATION OF: A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY SPACED COLLARS ADAPTED TO BEMOUNTED ON THE WELL PIPE, A PLURALITY OF OUTWARD BOWED SPRING MEANSEXTENDING BETWEEN AND SECURED TO SAID COLLARS, PLATE MEANS MOUNTED ONSAID SPRING MEANS AND EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY IN BOTH DIRECTIONSFROM THAT SPRING MEANS TO LOCATIONS BENEATH EACH OF THECIRCUMFERENTIALLY ADJACENT SPRING MEANS FOR CONFINING THECIRCUMFERENTIAL EXTREMITIES OF SAID PLATE MEANS BETWEEN SAID ADJACENTSPRING MEANS AND THE WELL PIPE, AND MEANS HAVING AT LEAST ONE VANEPROJECTING INWARDLY FROM SAID SPRING MEANS TOWARD THE WELL PIPE, EACHSAID VANE EXTENDING DIAGONALLY AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY RELATIVE TO THEWELL PIPE FOR DIVERTING FLUID FLOWING PAST THE DEVICE, AND EACH SAIDVANE BEING RESILIENT FOR FLEXING UPON FLEXING SAID SPRING MEANS.